Air washing and conditioning apparatus



' V 1,475,639 1 J. 1, LYLE ET AL' AIR WASHING AND CONDITIONING APPARATUS File d Feb. 14, 1920 4 Sheets-Sheetl Nov. 27 1923.

J. l. LYLE ET AL AIR WASHING AND CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 14, 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet m w M W ATTORNEYfl Nov. 27 1923.

J.-|. LYLE ET AL 7 AIR WASHING AND CONDITIGNING APPARATUS- Filed Feb. 14 1920 '4 Sheets-Sheet 5 A Troy/v5 45.

Nov. 27, 1923.

J. l. LYLE ET AL AIR WASHING AND CONDITIONING APPARATUS 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 14

iii

Fatented Nov. 27.

unites stares J 0131 IRVINE LYLE AND LEO L. LEWIS. OF PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNORS TO PATENT QFFECE.

CARRIER ENGINEERING CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

AIR WASHING AND CONDITIONING APPARATUS.

Appiication filed February 14, 1920. Serial No. 358,641.

T 0 all 1072077151 may concern Be it known that we. Jon. I; LYLE and LEO L. LEWIS. citizens of the United States. residing at Plainfield. in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Air Washing and Conditioning Apparatus, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to air washing and Conditioning apparatus of the kind in which the air is passed through a fine spray of water for washing the air and also for altering its humidity when this is desired. and then passes through an eliminator whiclrremoves the free particles of entrained moisture from the air. after which the air may be heated or cooled for increasing or reducing its temperature. as may be required.

One object of this invention is to produce an air washing or conditioning apparatus of this nature. which is of a'desirable and practical novel construction. adapting the apparatus for use in places where the room available for the apparatus is limited. as for instance between the decks of vessels.

Other objects of the invention are to so construct the apparatus that the spray water used for washing or conditioning the air and which is notvaporized. is adapted to flow from the washer or conditioner casing into a holder or tank so as to prevent the water from surging and splashing in the casing of the washer. due to the motion of the vessel; also to provide an air washer or con-. ditioner which comprises upright spray and tempering chambers arranged one within the other. and an annularly disposed eliminator for said chambers; also to provide a novel eliminator for air washing or conditioning apparatus consisting of spaced eliminator plates disposed in an annular series and designed so that the surface areas of diilerent. portions of the eliminator plates are proportional to the cross sectional areas of the air spaces between such portions of the plates so as to equalize the work done in the different portions of the eliminator; and also to improve air washing and conditioning apparatus in the other respects hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of an air washing and conditioning or humidity regulating and heating or cooling apparatus embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view thereof. partly in horizontal section, on line 2--2. Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical, sectional elevation of the air washer.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional elevation on an enlarged scale showing the lower portion of the air washer. v

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional plan view thereof on line 5-5, Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an elevation of one of the eliminator plates detached. j

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional elevation of an air washer, of slightly modified construction.

Fig.' 8 is a fragmentary sectional plan view thereof on line 88, Fig. 7.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings. the air washer comprises an uprightouter casing 10. and an upright. open-ended shell or tubular partition 11, which is located within and divides the easing into an inner or spray chamber 12 and a surrounding annular or air tempering chamber 13. The air enters the upper end of the inner spray chamber 12 through a suitable air supply flue or funnel 14. Fig. 1. passes down through the inner chamber 12. around the lower end of the partition 11 and up through the annular chamber 1 from which it is delivered through suitable distributing flues 15, radiating or extending outwardly from the upper portion of the casing below the closed top 16 of the annular chamber 13 to the.

various points or chambers where it is desired to deliver the air. The flow of the air through the washer can be caused by any suitable air propelling means (not shown).

The outer casing 10 and tubular partition 11 are preferably cylindrical and arranged concentrically, and the lower end 17 of "the outer casing is preferably tapered downwardly. or is of inverted frusto-conical shape. As shown. the outer casing is braced and supported by a skeleton frame work 18 composed of flanged metal bars.

and the tubular partition 11 is supported or liquid for washing or conditioning the air is discharged in a fine spray in the inner or spray chamber 12 from spray nozzles 20 suitably arranged in the upper portion of the spray chamber and connected to a water supply pipe or header :21 through which the water is delivered under suitable pressure. The water flows from the spray chamber 12 and also from the eliminator, hereinafter described, into the tapered bottom 17 of the casing. and escapes therefrom through a central pipe or onnection :22 into a holder or tank 23 which is located below the air washer, and preferably below the floor or deck on which the washer casing is arranged. The spray water. as usual in apparatus of this nature, is preferably recirculated and used over and over again, and for this purpose the water is drawn from the holder or tank 23 through a pipe 24: by a pump 25' which returns the water preferably as hereinafter described. to the spray nozzles 20.

26 represents vtheeliminator for removing the free particles of entrained moisture from the air leaving the spray chamber. The eliminator, as is common in air washers, consists of a series of zig-zag or beat plates which are spaced a short distance apart so as to form a multiplicity of narrow. tortuous spaces between them, through which the air flows, but in the present apparatus the eliminator plates are arranged radially or in an annular series within the lower portion of the casing 10, in such a manner that the air flowing from the spray chamber into the annular chamber 13 must pass through the tortuous spaces between the eliminator plates 27. Two slightly different constructions of the eliminator are shown in the drawings.

As shown in Figs. 36, the eliminator plates 27 are arranged around the lower end of the tubular partition 11 and extend radially outward therefrom, the lower edges of the plates inclining downwardly from points adjacent thelower end of the tubular partition 11 to the lower portion of the cylindrical wall of the washer casing 10. The plates increase in height or width from their inner ends to their outer ends, and as shown,'the upper edges, also, of the plates, slope downwardly from their inner to their outer ends. tions of each plate, which incline alternately in opposite directions, also slope downwardly from the inner to the outer ends ofthe plates and each of these faces gradually increases in height from its inner to itsouter end. Since the eliminator plates extend radially, the air spaces between the plates increase in width from their inner to their outer ends. but as the plates and their component inclined faces also increase in height from their inner to their outer ends, the surface areas of different portions of the plates The component faces or por-' course from a descending to an ascending direction, is practically evenly distributed from end to end of the eliminator plates. This further aids in uniformly distributing the work throughout the entire area 01 the eliminator plates. The water separated from the air by the contact of the air with one after another of the inclined faces of the eliminator plates is adapted to flow downwardly over the faces and alsooutwardly in the direction of the downward slope of the component faces of the plates. The separating action of the eliminator is therefore "ery efiicient and thorough.

28 represents coils of pipe extending around the partition 11 in the annular chamber above the eliminator for the circulation I of steam or other suitable medium for tempering; the air which passes through this bank of coils on its way out of the washer. These pipes or coils are connected at their opposite ends to supply and return headers 29 and 30 provided with suitable valves 31 for controlling the flow of fluid through the coils. The coils can be supported on cross bars in the chamber 13, or in any other suitable way. The air can be heated by supplying steam or other suitable heating medium to the tempering coils, whereas if it is desired to cool the air this can be done by the circulation of a suitable cooling medium through the tempering coils.

32 represents baffle plates arranged in'the lower portion of the outer casing for preventing the water on the bottom of the easing from surging or splashing about in the casing, due to the rolling or motion of the vessel. As shown, these bafile plates are arranged radially on edge and incline upwardly from the tapering bottom 17 of the casing and are connected together at their inner ends in the central portion of the casing.

33 represents an access door in the upper portion of the casing 10, and 34:is a passage from the same across the chamber 13 to spray chamber 12. This passage is provided with doors 35 in its sides to give access also to the tempering chamber and the coils therein. Any other suitable means for affording access to the casing could be employed.

The humidity of the air leaving the apparatus can be altered or regulated by 130 changing or regulating the temperature of the spray water so as to produce a required temperature in the spray chamber. The circulating spray water can'bc heated or cooled for this purpose by any usual or suitable means. In the apparatus shown. a steam water heater 3? is interposed between the water pump and the spray nozzles and is connected by a pipe 38 with the pump discharge pipe 39, and by a pipe 40 with a bypass pipe 41 connecting the pump discharge pipe 39 with a pipe t2 leadin to the main spray pipe or header 21. valve 43 located in the bypas pipe-H is adapted. by its position to cause more or less of the water to pass through the heater 37 or pass around the heater, throu'ghthe by-pass 4-1, thereby regulating the temperature of tlie'spray water. The valve 43 can be operated automatically to maintain a predetermined, desired temperature in the spray chamber, by means of a thermostat 4A, which responds to changes in temperature in the water or air leaving the spray chamber, and controls the flow of compressed air from the reservoir 45 through pipes 46 and 47 to the diaphragm or motor of the valve 43. In the construction shown, this thermostat is arranged in the water holder or tank 23 and responds to changes in the temperature of the water. By saturating the air with moisture in the spray chamber and controlling the saturation or dew point temperature in the spray chamber in the manner explained the absolute humidity of the air can be regulated as desired by appropriately setting the thermostat 44. Any other sutable means for changing or regulating the temperature of the spray water could be employed, and if desired, the temperature of the spray water could be lowered for cooling the air or dehumidif'ying it by using a water cooler instead of the heater 3?, or the humidity of the air could be changed or controlled in any other suitable way.

After the air has been washed and its humidity determined as explained, it can be heated or cooled to the desired temperature by means of the tempering coils. The arrangement of the air tempering or discharge chamber 13 outside of or around the spray chamber enables a. very convenient distribution of the air through the ship or building in which the apparatus is located, since the air distributing flues can be disposed round the washer casing as may be necessary or most desirable. I

Figs. 7 and 8 show a washer which is constructed as above described with the exception of the eliminator. This eliminator, like the one already described, is composed of an annular series of spaced radal zig-zag or bent plates 50 in the lower part of the washer casing but these plates are located diaphragm are arranged with their component inclined v faces extending. vertically. The plates extend radially outwardly into the annular tempering chamber 13 around a central open space 51 substantially equal in diameter with the spray chamber 12. A top plate 52 closes the upper ends of the air passages between the plates, so that the air is compelled to traverse the full width'of the eliminator plates in passing through the eliminator.

' \Ve claim as our invention? 1 1. In an air washer or the like, the combination of chambers which are arranged one within the other and communicate at one end, means at the other ends of said chambers for admitting air to one chamber and discharging it from the other chamber, the air inlet and discharge ends of said chambers being adjacent each other, means for discharging liquid in a fine spray into the air in one of said chambers, said spray means being constructed and arranged to fill said spray chamber throughout its cross section with the spray, and said spray chamher being otherwise substantially unobstructed. and an eliminator for removing the free water from the air, said eliminator comprising spaced plates arranged in an annular series in the inlet end of said outer chamber and forming intervening zig-zag passages through which the air from said spray chamber flows.

2. In an air washer or the like, the combination of chambers which are arranged one withn the other and communicate at one end, means at the other ends of said chambers for admitting air to one chamber and discharging it from the other chamber, the air inlet and discharge ends of said chambers being adjacent each other, means for discharging liqu d in a fine spray into the air in one of said chambers, saidspray means being constructed and arranged to till .1 send spray chamber throughout its cross sec tion with the spray, and said spray chamber being otherwise substantially unobstructed, and an eliminator for removing the free water from the air. said eliminator comprising a series of spaced radial plates arranged ad- .jacent the communicating ends of said charm ltltl bers and forming intervening zig-zag pas sages through which the air from said spray chamber flows into said other chamber.

3. In an air washer or the like. the combination of chambers which are arranged one within the other and communicate at one end. means at the other ends of said chambers for admitting air to one chamber and discharging it from the other chamber, the air inlet and discharge ends of said chambers being adjacent each other, means for discharging liquid in a fine spray into the air in one of said chambers, said spray means being constructed and arranged to fill said spray chamber throughout its cross section with the spray, and said spray chamber being otherwise substantially unobstructed and an eliminator for removing the free water from the air, said eliminator comprising an annular series of spaced radial zig-zag plates arranged in said outer chamber around said inner chamber adjacent its discharge end and forming intervening zig-zag passages through which the air from said spray chamber flows into said other chamber.

4. In an air washer or the like. the combination of an upright casing. an upright tubular partition dividing said easing into an inner chamber and a surrounding annular chamber which communicate at their lower ends, means for admitting air at the upper end of one of said chambers and a plurality of separate air discharge ducts leading from the upper end of the other chamber, means for discharging liquid in a fine spray into the air in one of said chambers, said spray means being constructed and arranged to fill said spray chamber throughout its cross section with the spray, and said spray chamber being otherwise substantially unobstructed and an eliminator for removing the free water from the air, said eliminator comprising an annular series of spaced plates arranged adjacent the lower end of said partition and forming zig-zag passages-through which the air from said spray chamber flows.

5. In an air washer or the like, the combination of chambers which are arranged one within the other and communicate at one end, means at the other ends of said chambers for admitting air to one chamber and discharging it from the other chamber, means for discharging liquid in a fine spray into the air in one of said chambers, said spray means being constructed and arranged to fill said spray chamber throughout its cross section with the spray, and said spray chamber being otherwise substantially unobstructed and an eliminator for removing the free water from the air, said eliminator comprising an annular series of spaced radial plates forming intervening zig-zag passages through which the air from said spray chamber flows, said plates increasing in width from their inner to their outer ends.

6. In an air washer or the like, the combination of an upright casing, an upright tubular partition dividing said easing into an inner chamber and a surrounding annular chamber which communicate at their lower ends, means for admitting air at the upper end of one of said chambers and a .plurality of separate discharge ducts leadmg from the upper end of the other chamber, means for discharging liquid in a fine spray into the air in one of said chambers, said spray means being constructed and arranged to fill said spray chamber throughout its cross section with the spray. and said spray chamber being otherwise sub stantially unobstructed, an eliminator for removing the free water from the air, said eliminator comprising an annular series of spaced radial zig-zag plates forming intervening passages through which the air from said spray chamber flows. said plates having lower edges which slope downwardly from their inner towards their outer ends.

7. In an air washer or the like. the combination of an upright casing. an upright tubular partition dividing said casing into an inner chamber and a surrounding annular chamber which communicate at their lower ends, means for admitting air at the upper end of one of said chambers and discharging it from the upper end of the other chamber, means for discharging liquid in a fine spray into the air in one of said chambers. an eliminator for removing the free water from the air, said eliminator comprising an annular series of spaced radial plates forming lntervening zlg-zag passages through which the air from said spray chamber flows. said plates having alternate oppositely lnchne-d faces which increase 111 width and slope downwardly from their inner toward their out-er ends.

8. In an air washer or the like, the combination of an upright casing. an upright tubular partition dividing said easing into an inner chamber and a surrounding annular chamber whichv communicate attheir lower ends, means for admitting air at the upper end of one of said chambers and discharging it from the upper end of the other chamber, means for discharging liquid in a fine spray into the air in one of said chambers, said spray means being constructed and arranged to fill said spray chamber throughout its cross section with the spray, and said spray chamber being otherwise substantially unobstructed, an eliminator for removing the free water from the air, said eliminator comprisingan annular series of spaced plates arranged adjacent the lower ends of said chambers forming intervening zig-zag passages through which the air from said spray chamber flows intosaid other chamber, and air tempering means located in said other chamber above'said eliminator.

9. In an air washer or the like, the combination of an upright casing, an upright tubular partition dividing said casing into an inner chamber and a surrounding annular chamber which communicate at their lower ends, means for admitting air at the upper end of said inner chamber and discharging it from the upper end of the annu lar chamber, means for discharging liquid in a fine spray into said inner spray chamber. an eliminator in the lower portion of said casing comprising an annular series of spaced plates forming intervening zig-zag air passages for removing free water from the air flowing from the spray chamber, and tempering coils for the air arranged around the inner chamber in said annular chamber above the eliminator.

10. In an air washer or the like, the cornbination of an upright casing. an upright tubular partition dividing said casing into an inner chamber and a surrounding annular chamber which communicate at their lower ends. means for admittin air at the upper end of said inner chamber. ateral air distrib- Jting flues leading outwardly from the upper portion of said annular chamber. means for discharging liquid in a fine spray into said spray chamber. an eliminator in the lower portion of said casing comprising an annular series of spaced plates forming intervening zig-zag air passages for removing free water from the air flowing from the spray chamber. and tempering coils for the air arranged around the inner chamber in said annular chamber above the eliminator.

11. In an air washer or the like, the combination of upright chambers which are arranged one within the other and communicate at their lower ends and have their upper ends adjacent to each other. means for admitting air to the upper end of said inner chamber and discharging it from the upper end-of said outer chamber, means for discharging liquid in afine spray into the air in said inner chamber, said spray means being constructed and arranged to fill @id spray chamber throughout its cross section with spray, and said spray chamber being otherwise unobstructed. and an eliminator for removing the free water from the air, said eliminator comprising an annular series of spaced radial plates arranged adjacent the lower communicating ends of said chambers and forming intervening zig-zag passages through which the air from said inner pray chamber flows.

Witness our hands this 6th day of Feb ruary, 1920.

JOEL IRVINE LYLE. LEO L. LEWIS. "tnesses:

K. BURNSMANN, M. S. SMITH, H. L. JANET, F. PAUL ANDERSON, Jr. 

